Archives



Business, Feature, Freight News, Sea


PortManatee Gets Hurricane Recovery Funds

[ October 18, 2024   //   ]

SeaPort Manatee is to receive US$9.5 million to jumpstart recovery from Hurricane Milton, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Oct. 14.
The emergency funding comes as fuel, food and other key goods are again beginning to flow from SeaPort Manatee to consumers throughout Southwest and Central Florida and beyond, following late Oct. 9 landfall of Hurricane Milton.
“We want to make sure our supply chain is strong and that we get the port back to where it needs to be as soon as possible,” DeSantis said.
Initial assessments place damage at about US$200 million in potential losses at SeaPort Manatee, DeSantis said, including damage to warehouses, berths, container yard, offices and security installations. Not all those losses are expected to be covered by insurance, the governor noted.
DeSantis said the emergency state funding is to include:
• US$5.5 million for emergency berth repairs and dredging in state waters.
• US$3.5 million for immediate security needs and access control.
• US$500,000 to support planning activities for fortifying port infrastructure.
The governor also pledged staff support from multiple state agencies, as well as Florida National Guard assistance with perimeter security.

Manatee County’s seaport is operating in an “almost normal” manner, SeaPort Manatee Executive Director Carlos Buqueras said, due to extensive collaborative efforts between county, state and federal authorities and industry partners
“This additional funding from the state will really make all the difference” in returning to full operational status, Buqueras said.
The closest U.S. deepwater seaport to the expanded Panama Canal, SeaPort Manatee serves as a gateway for burgeoning Southwest and Central Florida markets, with rail and roadway links, including to the distribution-center-filled Tampa/Orlando Interstate 4 corridor. SeaPort Manatee offers 10 deep-draft berths, proficiently fulfilling diverse demands of container, liquid and dry bulk, breakbulk, heavy-lift, project and general cargo customers.

Gathered at PortManatee for the announcement of the emergency hurricane recovery funding include, from left: State Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton; Kevin Van Ostenbridge, chairman, Manatee County Port Authority; Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown; Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis; Mike Rahn, Manatee County Port Authority; Carlos Buqueras, executive director, SeaPort Manatee; Amanda Ballard, Manatee County Port Authority; Jason Bearden, Manatee County Port Authority; state Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue; and FDOT District One Secretary L.K. Nandam.

Tags: